By Matt Smith
Eugenio Chacarra edged closer to claiming his first title as a professional — and a whopping pay day — at the LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok on an eventful day at Stonehill.

The Spaniard will have a big chance on Sunday, where predicted storms mean the shotgun start has been brought forward to 9am local time.

The 22-year-old Spaniard added a 63 to his opening 65 on Saturday for a 16-under total and a five-stroke lead over nearest challengers Harold Varner III, Patrick Reed, Sihwan Kim and Chicarra’s fellow first-round leader Richard Bland.

There was a name noticeable by its absence as the third man that was leading the way after Day 1 — Branden Grace — was forced to withdraw through injury, putting his season and title hopes in major doubt.

The South African entered Saturday’s second round in Thailand with a chance to catch Dustin Johnson atop the season-long individual points race.

However, three holes into his round, he was forced to call it quits with an acute muscle strain on his left side, making him a big doubt for next week’s finale in Jeddah, and possibly the Team Championship in Miami at the end of the month.

The Portland champion, Grace, has been one of the most consistent players this season on LIV with three top-15s and a third-place finish in London to add to his victory.

It’s also a blow for his all-South African Stinger team, who have lost their main man.

Grace came into this week in second place in the Individual Championship standings with 79 points, 39 behind Johnson. With tournament winners receiving 40 points, Grace could have taken a one-point lead with a win and a bottom 24 finish for Johnson (only players finishing in the top 24 receive points). Johnson entered Saturday’s round tied for 21st.

Depending on the results in Bangkok, he could stay inside the top three going into Jeddah.

Even if that happens, if he can’t play next week, his podium position will be in jeopardy. Only the top three players in the final points standings receive portions from the $30 million bonus purse — $18 million to the winner, $8 million to second, and $4 million to third.

Asked about Grace’s status for Jeddah, his physiotherapist Cornel Driessen said: “Chances are slim, but we first have to do a thorough investigation. It might be a slight strain, but if there’s a small tear, no chance. We’ll see.”

Grace first noticed something might be wrong while on the range Saturday, but he managed to birdie the opening hole to move to 8 under. The injury became worse after his tee shot on the second hole. On his ensuing approach shot, he grabbed his left side near his ribs and asked for an ice bag. He finished the hole with a par.

At the 191-yard par-3 third, he opted to use a 4-iron instead of his usual choice of 7-iron. Although obviously in pain, he continued to play, and nearly rolled in his birdie putt. But after finishing with a par, he received treatment from Driessen and a local medical crew while lying near the third green and was simply unable to continue.

He was then taken off property to a medical facility for an MRI.

“It’s very likely a strained intercostal muscle or oblique muscle,” Driessen said. “If he keeps on swinging, it makes it worse. We don’t want to risk long-time injury or damage.”

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